Written by

Share

Written by

Coca-Cola seeks a pop. Its rivals reported drops in soft drink sales last quarter, but Coke could buck the trend when it reveals earnings today. Investors will also look for more clues about Coke’s new 10% stake in Green Mountain Coffee.

Japan maintains its determined smile. Bank of Japan’s two-day monetary policy meeting wraps up today. No policy changes are expected ahead of April’s tax hike, but the governor’s comments will be read in the context of disappointing fourth-quarter GDP figures.

Brazil appeases investors about its future. Brazilian central bank president Alexandre Tombini delivers his year-ahead outlook and will have to convince investors of his commitment to a 4.5% inflation target.

Iran pulls up a seat at the negotiation table. Iran and six world powers meet again in Vienna for another round of nuclear talks, after last month’s interim agreement. Despite initial optimism, the general consensus is that a permanent solution is still out of reach.

While you were sleeping

Italy appointed a new prime minister. Matteo Renzi, the center-left mayor of Florence, was asked by Italy’s president to form a government after Enrico Letta stepped down as prime minister on Friday. The markets applauded the news: The yield on ten-year bonds fell to an eight-year low amid excitement about Renzi’s pledge for economic reform (paywall).

The Libor probe claimed three more victims. The UK’s fraud watchdog charged three former Barclays employees with “conspiracy to defraud” for their involvement in the manipulation of Libor (paywall), the inter-bank interest rate.

Hank Greenberg splashed out on insurance. Hank Greenberg, former boss of AIG, and a group of other investment firms agreed to buy MultiPlan, a company that helps health insurers process claims, in a deal that values the company at $4.4 billion.

An Ethiopian pilot made a bold move for asylum. An Ethiopian co-pilot locked himself in the cockpit when his partner took a bathroom break and diverted the Rome-bound plane to Geneva, claiming he felt threatened in his home country and was seeking asylum in Switzerland.

Jason Karaian on Europe’s rising number of Euro-haters. “Does it matter? Insurgents from the political fringe have always been better represented in the European parliament than at the national level, thanks to low turnout and the perception that votes for the obscure, distant institution present an opportunity to protest without serious consequences. But what’s different this time around is that the rightwing insurgents seem serious about teaming up (pdf), which would give them more clout in the parliament. At the same time, the parliament has acquired more power and prominence, not least the ability for the largest party group to pick the next president of the European Commission, the EU’s influential executive arm.” Read more here.

Matters of debate

The war in Syria is a blot on human history.It’s the great disaster of our time that represents a step back for civilization, argues Stephen Hawking.